There have been plenty of years where the NFL Scouting Combine feels overwrought and inane, something done more for tradition, television ratings and to keep "The Shield" in the national conversation than for any logical purpose. With the draft not happening until May this year, the 2014 class ran the risk of making the festivities in Indianapolis look more nonsensical than ever.

But one look at the names on the invite list is enough to quell nearly all of the criticism. This season may not have the best crop of talent, but it's difficult to remember a more famous breed of prospects making their way to the yearly Underwear Olympics.

Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney lead a class of collegiate superstars in Indy, littered with numerous backstories, off-the-field storylines and questions about their NFL acumen to answer. While those players' participation in the physical drills may vary, some of the more pressing questions will at least get superficial answering.

Manziel won't be throwing until his pro day, but that's a secondary concern to when he steps to the tape measure. The diminutive Heisman winner was listed at 6'1" at Texas A&M—and that's a bit of a stretch at best. As NFL Network's Ian Rapoport pointed out, one team even has an over/under pool set up for Manziel's measurements:

For Clowney, the biggest questions may come in the interview room. The former South Carolina defensive end is an athletic freak. Few question that. But his down junior season left scouts, fans and coaches alike wondering about his effort level. To his credit, Clowney remains 100 percent confident in his skills.

"I kind of laughed at it," Clowney told Yahoo Sports' Anwar S. Richardson. "People are going to say what they want to say. I bet half of the people that are talking can’t play football. They just see what they see, or don’t know nothing about the game. I just get a laugh out of it."

We won't be analyzing what Clowney says to teams in this space. However, Manziel's height, Clowney's assuredly jaw-dropping 40 time and every other physical measurement taken in Indianapolis will be posted on an ongoing basis. The players are still arriving as we speak, but here is a look at when each position group will go through the drills:

Saturday, Feb. 22: Tight ends, offensive linemen, special teams

Sunday, Feb. 23: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers

Monday, Feb. 24: Defensive linemen, linebackers

Tuesday, Feb. 25: Defensive backs

With that in mind, here is a look at all of the results from the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine.

Defensive Backs

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When the defensive backs hit the field, speed, agility and leaping ability is the name of the game. While teams will be interested to see how strong the safeties are, the bench press is much less important for corners.

What has become more important for defensive backs in recent years—and especially after the success of the Legion of Boom, the secondary that helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory—is length.

As more and more teams utilize tall wide receivers and big, athletic tight ends to create mismatches, defensive schemes crave physical yet athletic players in the secondary that can stack up against such versatile weapons.

So while the 40-yard dash remains the most important drill for the defensive backs, keep an eye on the height, weight, arm length and vertical leaps of these players at the combine.

Defensive Line

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Like the offensive linemen who participated the day prior, there is not one drill in particular that defensive linemen must excel in on Feb. 24.

The dash has some importance, but it is the jumps that determine whether or not a particular player has an impressive—and critical—burst out of a prone stance. The on-field drills and obstacle courses are the main thing scouts will focus on as they test the foot quickness and overall mobility of the draft's biggest players.

Linebackers

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Sideline-to-sideline speed is the focal point of both drills and on-field work for linebackers at the combine.

A strong 40-yard dash time is nice, but it is cone drills and the like that display strong change-of-direction ability. For those linebackers viewed as pass rushers from multiple spots, strong performances in the broad jump will help to display the burst from a prone position necessary to excel at the next level.

Offensive Line

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For offensive linemen, there isn't one drill that carries more overarching importance than the others. The bench will certainly have the most effect in determining each player's strength level—kind of a big deal when you're blocking 300-pound men every Sunday—but that's not the only thing scouts will be looking at.

Linemen, more than any other position, will have scouts looking at their arm length. Players with short arms often struggle to get extension off the line, making it easier for their opposing linemen to get around them.

Lateral quickness and agility are also interesting tests here. Looking more closely to the three-cone drill and the shuttle than the 40 is often the prudent point, though that rarely happens.

Tight End

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It's easy to say we're in a different era of tight end, but the ranks of the elite are thinner than you would expect. Rob Gronkowski's injury problems cast a shadow over his status, while Jimmy Graham might wind up having an official position change in the eyes of the NFL if his representation has their way.

Luckily, there are a few tight ends in this class who could help the league's overall depth. Expect a few 40 times and feats of athleticism that get people talking—even near the top of the first round. Eric Ebron of North Carolina, in particular, stands out as someone who could wow scouts in Indianapolis.

Quarterback

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The quarterbacks aren't always the stars of the show at the combine—many of the top prospects will wait until their pro days to throw, while others will skip some of the anticipated drills—but you can bet all eyes will be on the top prospects at the position in Indianapolis.

While a player's strength and speed are more important than they were in years past given how mobile quarterbacks have infilitrated the league, generally the focus with quarterbacks is on their height, hand size, the throwing drills and the interview sessions. There isn't a more cerebral position in the game, after all.

There are a lot of intriguing players in the quarterback class this year, and as many as four players could worm their way into the top 10 of the draft.

Wide Receiver

This year's crop of wide receivers is plenty talented and has the potential to be one of the deepest groups in recent memory.

If nothing else, their speed will really impress the analysts and scouts on hand at the combine. There are plenty of big-play receivers present in Indianapolis.

Given the vertical traits of today's game, having such receivers is crucial for offensive coordinators. Quarterbacks love throwing to guys that can get open down field and create space between himself and a defensive back. There are plenty of guys with that potential here.

Running Back

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The combine will be particularly important to the running backs in this year's class. There doesn't appear to be one that really stands head and shoulders above the pack, so the combine will help to tell NFL scouts which guys have the physical skills to compete at the next level.

Running backs often possess both power, speed and agility, and all of that will be on display at the combine. Versatile, pass-catching backs are important in today's game, and the running backs at the combine will need to show off every aspect of their skill sets to impress teams.

Take a look at the running backs looking to make the jump to the pros.